Hillary Schneider, Epona Rise Retreat – InnovaBuzz 141

Hillary Schneider, Epona Rise Retreat

In this episode, I’m really excited to welcome to the InnovaBuzz Podcast, Hillary Schneider, of Epona Rise Retreat. Hillary is a leadership coach who provides mentorship and guidance to visionaries and entrepreneurs helping them build clarity, confidence and certainty. And she does that, through building a connection between her herd of horse and her clients. This is another fascinating interview.

In our discussion, Hillary talked to me about:

• Purpose and leadership, and how the biggest barrier is often the fear about embracing our purpose.
• What we can learn from observing horses in the herd – awareness of our surroundings, structure and empowerment and more when there is no ego-filter
• What the interaction with a horse can teach us and how Hillary works together with the horses to facilitate change in her clients

Ciel Ellis on episode 135 introduced us to Hillary.

Listen to the podcast to find out more.

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Show Notes from this episode with Hillary Schneider of Epona Rise Retreat

Key points and take-aways from this episode include:

• There is something unique about horses that really supports our own inner journey. Horses embody freedom, empowerment and authenticity. Horses don’t have an ego. There is no bias and there is no agenda. They don’t care about how much you’re paying for a session or what position you have in a company. They’ll just purely respond to how you are showing up.
• The feedback that we get from horses is very pure and instant. We don’t get that between each other as human beings because the feedback that we give to one another is biased through our own filters.
• We often feel vulnerable in receiving feedback. With horses, we feel safe because it non-judgemental. We are able to absorb an awareness of ourselves in a way that we can receive it and see it, which can lead to transformation and adapting a way of behaving or interacting with the world and with ourselves that is more authentic to who we want to be.
• Horses read energy way better than we do.
• As human beings, one of our greatest challenge is to get out of our heads.
• The thing that prevents people from having the clarity of purpose is our fear around claiming it.
• Horses empower leadership. We can learn a lot from just watching a herd of horses and how they embody leadership and empower the hierarchy. It really resonates in some of our dysfunctions as human beings, and how horses operate in a much more balanced and harmonious way while still maintaining the integrity of the order.

The Buzz – Our Innovation Round

Here are Hillary’s answers to the questions of our Innovation round. Listen to the interview to get the full scoop.

• #1 thing to be more innovative – Self-awareness and emotional intelligence.
• Best thing for new ideas – Create a space for them to come. Just having that intention of creating space to nurture new ideas or to be inspired is hugely important.
• Favourite tool for innovation – Spending time with my horses. Going out for some horse wisdom is very valuable to for me in that regard.
• Keep project / client on track – Listening and really paying attention to what feels like the most supportive and nurturing process for each client. Genuine connection, care and being curious of where they are and what is going to help them stay.
• Differentiate – Be authentic. Be who you are. The passion and connection to your work and staying to that alignment is all you really need to do to stand out. It is not what we do but who we are that really attracts people.

To Be a Leader

Keep coming back to what started you off in the process in the first place, to that passion of being moved by something. Any time we’re starting a business or being innovative about something, there is an initial spark that has  given birth to that. Always go back to the bigger purpose of your WHY and create a space where you can access your creativity. Be aware of the things that get in the way of that and make it a priority to really empower yourself through your process and your vision.

Reach Out

You can reach out and thank Hillary through her website and on Facebook.

Suggested Guest

Hillary suggested I interview Russell Grimaldi of Ogilvy CommonHealth Worldwide. So Russell, keep an eye on your inbox, for an invitation from us to the InnovaBuzz podcast, courtesy of Hillary Schneider. 

Links

• Website – Hillary Schneider
• Epona Rise Retreat Centre
• Women Who Run With Horses Podcast
• Twitter – @HillaryEpona
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

Cool things about Hillary

• At a young age, she already knew that horses will be a big part of her path.
• She’s been a nanny, dog walker, and an intuitive card reader  before finally bringing all of her talents into the spaces she now holds in her coaching both online and in person with her herd.
• Along with her 24 rescue horses, she shares her life with two dogs Odin and Luca, and Luna the Cat.

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